Page 30 of Seductive Architect
Fine, Kiki. You win.
“She didn’t?”
“She did!”
Hudson snorted. “What did Arthur say?”
“We are never allowed to have casual Friday again.”
While we waited for our pizza, I shared a long list ofhijinks caused by Janet’s reign of terror. If I didn’t work there, I wouldn’t believe it. As I delved into the outlandish stories, I couldn’t figure out how we ever accomplished work. When I joined Secret Identities, I thought it’d be a solid cover and perhaps I’d be able to use my powers to do some good. I didn’t realize I signed up for a gentle warfare between siblings.
“You’d look good in a leather harness, I’m sure.”
I choked at the compliment. Thankfully, the server appeared in her black-and-white checkered shirt with a neon green apron. She set the large pepperoni pizza on the table, and my mouth watered at the abundance of cheese. The restaurant was only separated from the video games by a half-wall, but it was enough to quiet the shouting kids. If they didn’t make the best pizza in the city, I’m not sure I could have handled the noise.
“Can I get you two anything else?”
I eyed my soda. “I’m good.”
“It looks delicious,” Hudson said, towering over the pizza.
“Hope you two are having a great date night.” Her eyebrows waggled as she spoke. “Let me know if you need anything.”
We had spent the last two hours playing video games. Hudson proved to be a good sport, as he lost almost every game. Driving simulator? He crashed. First-person shooters. Zombies ate him. Even air hockey. He sent the puckflying two rows over. Even playing with my hands and not talking to the games, I crushed him over and over again. Losing that much, I wondered if I had been wrong all along?
Hudson slid a slice of pizza onto his paper plate. “What else do you like to do for fun? Other than destroy me at Dance Dance Revolution.” Ididhave sick moves on the dance floor.
“You wouldn’t want to hear that. My hobbies are?—”
“Tell me!” He grabbed plastic utensils, and I stared in disbelief as he cut the tip of his pizza before devouring it. “Ohmygodsogood,” he mumbled.
“I cannotlet this happen.” I took a piece from the tray, waving my hand under it as if I were putting on a demonstration. Folding it in half, I took a giant bite. He hadn’t been wrong. They had perfected the cheese-to-sauce ratio. Their pepperoni had been carefully placed, making for the perfect bite. “I think I’m in love.”
“That’s all it takes, huh?”
I hid the burning in my face behind a folded piece of cheesy goodness. My research mission had turned into a date… one of the best. If I kept a little black book filled with firsts, this would be the first time I put aside my theories in pursuit of genuine connection. I could hear Kiki’s voice cheering me forward.
“I like tracking life’s unsolvable mysteries.”
He raised an eyebrow while he chewed. “Like Bigfoot?”
If he only knew. Bigfoot was nothing more than a Canadian superhero roaming the woods looking for poachers. That had been one of my earliest discoveries. Not quite worthy of the board, but it had opened my eyes to the difference between reality and perception.
“Like…” Deep breath. I needed to rip the Band-Aid off slowly. “The cult of Vanguard’s elite trying to summon literal hell.”
“Lizard people?”
I nodded.
“Illuminati.”
“Don’t get me started.”
“Shapeshifting aliens replacing government officials?”
Wait. What?
“Artificial intelligence curating our personal data?”
